Bubble still



Nov. 5, 1935 A. A. ZEITLER 2,020,009

' BUBBLE STILL Filed Jan. 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I N VEN TOR. a.

@WMW "v ATTORNEY Patented Nov 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

vide a still structure which is simple and compact and,

in construction and efllcient in operation; further, to provide a still structure which insures large bubble areas and which W111 provide uniform distribution and flow both of liquids and Vaporsw The construction of the still is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1- is a central, vertical section showing one form of the still.

Fig. 2 is a cross'section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. detailed sectional view showing one of the removable bubble tubes and the means for securing it in the still.

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section of the cylinder type of still taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a plan view in section of a modified form of the still showing a. drumor cylinder type taken on line V-V of Fig. 4.

Referring'to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a housing which,.in this instance, is square or rectangular in cross section as shown in Fig. 2. ,Extending crosswise of the housing and horizontally thereof are plates, such as indicated at 3, 4, 5, B, and l, which divide the still into a number of superimposed compartments. Extending upwardly from each partition plate is a vertically disposed tube plate, such as shown at 8. Disposed intermediate said plate and the housing is a second plate 9 and disposed directly above the same is a cross plate l0. The plates 3, 4, 5, 6 and I extend substantially crosswise of the housing but terminate at a point indicated at l I, thereby leaving an elongated passage I 2 for the free flow of vapors as will hereinafter be described.

The plates indicated at l0 form in conjunction with the vertical plate 8 aseries of overflow wells l3 and the vertical plates 9 cooperating with the partition plates 3, b, 5, 6 and 1 form a second set of wells through which vapors flow before entering the bubble tubes hereinafter to be described.

Secured to the face of each plate 8 is a series of tube receiving flanges H, see Fig. 3, in which are formed conical seats IS. The bubble tubes generally indicated at I6 are similarly cone-shaped .at their inner ends and as such engage the cone seats l5 and form a joint therewith. The outer ends of the bubble tubes l6 project through the wall of the casing A and through flanges ll on which are pivotally mounted, as at I8, baleshaped brackets l9. Each bale carries a screw 20 and this is engageable with a closure plug 2|. When the plugs are placed in the outer ends-of the flanges and the bales swing into position and the screws 20 tightened, the plugs are forced inwardly and as such push the bubble tubes I6 into engagement with their cone-shaped seats l5. The plugs are provided with gaskets as shown at 22 and each bubble tube is thus secured in position and leakage is prevented.

The liquid to be distilled or otherwise treated enters the uppermost compartment through a feed pipe indicated at 23. This pipe discharges into the well l3 and overflows from the same into the upper compartment until it reaches a level controlled .by an overflow tube 25, which 25 discharges into the'well l3 of the next compartment. The overflow tube 25 is maintained at an elevation where the liquid will assume the level indicated at 26. That is, at a point where the bubble tubes IE will be fully submerged and when vapors discharge from the perforations l6a formed therein the vapors will bubble upwardly through the liquid so as to heat the same and drive off the alcohol, or other content to be removed. Each compartment is identical in'construction with the exception of the lowermost compartment. This carries a steam heating coil 20 through which steam or anyother heating medium is circulated in the usual manner and the 40 lowermost compartment is also provided with a pipe 29 through which the spentliquor is discharged, any means being provided for maintaining the discharging spent liquor under pressure so as to maintain a predetermined pressure in the still.

In actual operation let it be assumed that the still is in operation and that all compartments contain the liquid to be distilled. The temperature will be the highest in the lowermost compartment as the liquid therein is directly heated by the coil 28. The vapors liberated, whether in the form of alcohol or whatever it may be, discharge upwardly in the direction of arrow b and as such enters the first trap 30 from where it flows into the lowermost set of bubble tubes. The va r discharges through these perforated tubes and bubbles upwardly through the liquid and as such passes up to the next trap, through the same and the connected bubble tubes into the next compartment; and so on, until the uppermost compartment is reached. This compartment is provided with a vapor discharge tube 32 and this may be connected with a condenser 38, or similar means, which are here only diagrammatically indicated.

The liquor to be treated, whether it be wine, or otherwise, will as previously stated enter through the pipe 23. It will overflow from the well into which it discharged and will collect in the upper compartment until it overflows through the pipe 25. This discharges into the well of the compartment below and overflows therefrom into the compartment until overflow takes place in the overflow pipe which discharges into the well below. The liquid thus flows from one compartment to the other and flnally enters the lowermost compartment from where the spent liquor will discharge through pipe 29.

If wine is being treated, the alcoholic content will be the greatest in the uppermost compartment and as it passes from compartment to compartment the alcoholic content gradually decreases until all alcohol has been removed by the time the lowermost compartment is reached.

The still operates on the counter flow principle, that is, the liquid to be treated flows by gravity in a downward direction while the vapors whereby heat is imparted to drive oil the alcohol travels in an upward direction and finally discharges through pipe 32.

An apparatus of this eflicient in operation as large bubble areas are provided in each compartment as can be readily seen from Fig. 2. Where certain types of liquid or material is being treated the tubes and the perforations formed therein have a tendency to choke or clog up. In the present instance this is readily taken care of as the tubes can be removed one by one and cleaned as often as desired and spare tubes may be employed to replace the dirty tubes, if desired, so that the dirty tubes can be cleaned when convenient. When the clean or spare tubes are being replaced they are merely shoved through the flanges l1 and they are guided during this movement by engaging guide brackets 36, which direct them directly into the cone-shaped seats. Holes are formed in the sides of the housing as shown at 42 and these may be opened and a light inserted when the tubes are being removed and replaced so that the tubes can be easily aligned and inserted at their proper seats, also when all of the tubes are removed the entire interior surfaces are accessiblefor cleaning and the work can thus be rapidly and eiiiciently accomplished.

In still structures of this character fairly high temperatures are often employed and warping of partition plates and the like may take place.

' Such warping is of little consequence where bubble tubes of the character here shown are employed. Warpage due to welding during construction of the 'still is also of little consequence in this structure as misalignments are readily compensated. Also the liquid levels maintained in the several compartments and wells are ample so as to secure complete submersion of all the bubble tubes, or whatever it may be. Hence, uniform distribution and flow both of liquid and vapors is insured and as large areas are procharacter is exceedingly vided efllcient rapid operation can be depended upon.

bonnets II and the inner ends of the bubble tubes are seated therein while the outer ends extend through the 1 flanges welded or otherwise secured to the outer surface of the housing or shell. Accessibility for cleaning and repair is also obtained in the cylindrical structure, and while certain features of the a present invention are more or less specifically 20 described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or 5 varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

l. In a bubble still of the character described a housing, plates dividing the housing into a 30 plurality of superimposed compartments, each plate having an opening forming a vapor flow passage, a pair of vertically disposed spaced plates carried by each compartment plate and forming vapor traps, a plurality of openings with cone- 35 vapor traps, openings formed 'in the housing in alignment with said openings in the vertical plates, bubble housing openings, said tubes having cone-shaped ends to engage the cone-shaped seats in the vertical plates, means carried by the housing for exerting endwise pressure on the outer ends of the bubble tubes to hold them in engagement 45 with the cone-shaped seats and to close the outer ends, and means for maintaining the bubble tubes in each compartment submerged in a liquid.

2. In a bubble still of the character described a housing, plates dividing the housing into a 50 plurality of superimposed compartments, each plate having an opening forming a vapor flow passage, a pair of vertically disposed spaced plates carried by each compartment plate and forming vapor traps, a plurality of openings with cone- 55 shaped seats formed in one of said vertical plates, said openings being in communication with the vapor traps, openings formed in the housing in alignment with said openings in the vertical plates, bubble tubes insertable through the hous- '5 ing-openings, said tube having cone-shaped ends to engage the cone-shaped seats in the vertical plates, means carried by the housing for exerting endwise pressure on the outer ends of the bubble tubes to hold them in engagement with the coneshaped seats and to close the outer ends, a cover plate above each vapor trap to direct vapor thorugh the vapor traps and the connected bubble tubes, means for admitting the liquid to be treated to the uppermost compartments, an over- 7 flow pipe in each compartment, an overflow well in each compartment into which the overflow pipes extend, means for heating the liquid in the lowermost compartment and a liquid discharge connection in the lowermost compartment.

also be made in circular form as shown 5 tubes insertable through the 40 3. In a. bubble still of the character dem'lbed a. housing divided into a plurality of superimposed compartments, a vapor trap ln each compartment, said traps having a plurality of open- 7 movable in the tube seats, enclosure means earrlecl by the homing and engaging the outer ends of the tubes, Bald m n also exertin emlwise pressure to maintain the inner ends or the bubble tubes in engagement the tube 5 seats.

wens? A. 22mm. 7 

